대표
청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A dispensing closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said dispensing closure system comprising: (A) a body for accommodating communication with said container interior and including (1) a deck having (a) a deck first portion that includes a first dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed, (b) a deck second portion that includes a second dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed, and (c) a deck third port...
What is claimed is: 1. A dispensing closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said dispensing closure system comprising: (A) a body for accommodating communication with said container interior and including (1) a deck having (a) a deck first portion that includes a first dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed, (b) a deck second portion that includes a second dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed, and (c) a deck third portion that includes a third dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed; (2) radially oriented, upwardly projecting, first, second, and third walls wherein said first wall is located between said deck first portion and said deck second portion, wherein said second wall is located between said deck second portion and said deck third portion, and wherein said third wall is located between said deck third portion and said deck first portion; each said wall having two inner end faces that diverge from each other; (3) a central raised platform that (a) is higher than said deck, first portion, second portion, and third portion, (b) extends radially inwardly from said inner end faces of each said wall, and (c) defines one anchor recess with a annular snap-fit retention bead; (4) a protuberance projecting laterally from one of said two inner end faces of said first wall over said raised platform; (5) a protuberance projecting laterally from the other one of said two inner end faces of said first wall over said raised platform; (6) a protuberance projecting laterally from one of said two inner end faces of said second wall over said raised platform; (7) a protuberance projecting laterally from the other one of said two inner end faces of said second wall over said raised platform; (8) a protuberance projecting laterally from one of said two inner end faces of said third wall over said raised platform; (9) a protuberance projecting laterally from the other one of said two inner end faces of said third wall over said raised platform; (B) a top that is mounted to said body and that includes (1) a stationery central panel, (2) an anchor post that (a) projects from beneath said central panel, and (b) has an annular bead for cooperating with said anchor post retention bead to mount said central panel to said platform with a snap-fit engagement when said anchor post is inserted into said anchor recess, (3) a first lid that (a) is associated with said first dispensing region, (b) is hingedly connected to said central panel, (c) is pivotable between (i) a closed position occluding said first dispensing region aperture, and (ii) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said first dispensing region aperture, and (d) defines two lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past one of said protuberances as said first lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said first lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said first lid so as to move said first lid toward said closed position and force said first lid margins past said protuberances; (4) a second lid that (a) is associated with said second dispensing region, (b) is hingedly connected to said central panel, (c) is pivotable between (i) a closed position occluding said second dispensing region aperture, and (ii) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said second dispensing region aperture, and (d) defines first and second lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past said first and second protuberance, respectively, as said second lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said second lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said second lid so as to move said second lid toward said closed position and force said second lid margins past said protuberance; (5) a third lid that (a) is associated with said third dispensing region, (b) is hingedly connected to said central panel, (c) is pivotable between (i) a closed position occluding said third dispensing region aperture, and (ii) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said third dispensing region aperture, and (d) defines two lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past one said protuberances as said third lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said third lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said third lid so as to move said third lid toward said closed position and force said third lid margins past said protuberances. 2. The system in accordance with claim 1 which a first hinge connects said first lid to said central panel, a second hinge connects said second lid to said central panel, a third hinge connects said third lid to said central panel, said hinges each defines a pivot axis, said pivot axes of the hinges lie in, and define, a common plane, and each said protuberance has an elongate configuration oriented at an oblique angle with respect to said common plane. 3. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which each said protuberance (A) is elongate, and (B) has at least one end for initially engaging one of said lateral margins of one of said lids. 4. A dispensing closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said dispensing closure system comprising: (A) a body for accommodating communication with said container interior and including (1) a deck having at least (a) a first dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed, and (b) a second dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed, and (2) at least two spaced-apart protuberances that each (a) are located higher than the elevation of said deck, and (b) project laterally toward each other; (B) at least a first lid that (1) is associated with said first dispensing region, (2) is pivotable between (a) a closed position occluding said first dispensing region aperture, and (b) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said first dispensing region aperture, and (3) defines two lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past one said protuberances as said first lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said first lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said first lid so as to move said first lid toward said closed position and force said first lid margins past said protuberances; (C) at least a second lid that (1) is associated with said second dispensing region, (2) is pivotable between (a) a closed position occluding said second dispensing region aperture, and (b) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said second dispensing region aperture, and (3) defines two lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past one said protuberances as said second lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said second lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said second lid so as to move said second lid toward said closed position and force said second lid margins past said protuberances. 5. The system in accordance with claim 4 in which said system is a dispensing closure for a container that has an opening to the container interior, said closure being separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container around said opening. 6. The system in accordance with claim 5 in which said dispensing closure is a two-piece assembly that includes a body for mounting to said container, said body defining at least said first and second dispensing regions; and a top that is mounted to said body and that includes said first and second lids, said top including (A) a stationary central panel anchored to said body, (B) a first hinge connecting said first lid to said central panel, and (C) a second hinge connecting said second lid to said central panel. 7. A dispensing closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said dispensing closure system comprising: (A) a body for accommodating communication with said container interior and including (1) a deck having at least (a) a first dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed, and (b) a second dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed, and (2) at least two protuberances that each (a) are located above the elevation of said deck, and (b) project laterally; (B) at least a first lid that (1) is associated with said first dispensing region, (2) is pivotable between (a) a closed position occluding said first dispensing region aperture, and (b) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said first dispensing region aperture, and (3) defines two lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past one said protuberances as said first lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said first lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said first lid so as to move said first lid toward said closed position and force said first lid margins past said protuberances; (C) at least a second lid that (1) is associated with said second dispensing region, (2) is pivotable between (a) a closed position occluding said second dispensing region aperture, and (b) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said second dispensing region aperture, and (3) defines two lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past one said protuberances as said second lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said second lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said second lid so as to move said second lid toward said closed position and force said second lid margins past said protuberances; and wherein said system is a dispensing closure for a container that has an opening to the container interior, said closure being separate from, but releasably attachable to, said container around said opening; said dispensing closure is a two-piece assembly that includes said body defining at least said first and second dispensing regions; and a top that is mounted to said body and that includes said first and second lids, said top including (A) a stationary central panel anchored to said body, (B) a first hinge connecting said first lid to said central panel, and (C) a second hinge connecting said second lid to said central panel; said body deck has a third dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed; said top includes (1) a third lid that is associated with said third dispensing region, and (2) a third hinge connecting said third lid to said central panel for pivotable movement between (a) a closed position occluding said third dispensing region aperture, and (b) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through the third dispensing region aperture; said body includes said protuberances arranged in first, second, and third pairs associated with, and adapted to engage, said first, second, and third lids, respectively; and said third lid defines two lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past one said protuberances of said third pair of protuberances as said third lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said third lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said third lid so as to move said third lid toward said closed position and force said third lid margins past said protuberances. 8. The system in accordance with claim 4 in which said body has only two of said protuberances which are spaced-apart; and said first lid and said second lid are each adapted to be selectively moved between said closed position and said fully open position whereby each said lateral margin of each said lid can engage and move past one of said protuberances. 9. The system in accordance with claim 4 in which each said protuberance (A) is elongate, and (B) has two ends. 10. A dispensing closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said dispensing closure system comprising: (A) a body for accommodating communication with said container interior and including (1) a deck having at least (a) a first dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed, and (b) a second dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed, and (2) at least two protuberances that each (a) are located above the elevation of said deck, and (b) project laterally; (B) at least a first lid that (1) is associated with said first dispensing region, (2) is pivotable between (a) a closed position occluding said first dispensing region aperture, and (b) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said first dispensing region aperture, and (3) defines two lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past one said protuberances as said first lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said first lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said first lid so as to move said first lid toward said closed position and force said first lid margins past said protuberances; (C) at least a second lid that (1) is associated with said second dispensing region, (2) is pivotable between (a) a closed position occluding said second dispensing region aperture, and (b) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said second dispensing region aperture, and (3) defines two lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past one said protuberances as said second lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said second lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said second lid so as to move said second lid toward said closed position and force said second lid margins past said protuberances; and wherein said body deck has at least (A) a deck first portion defining said first dispensing region, and (B) a deck second portion defining said second dispensing region; said body includes a raised platform that (A) is at an elevation higher than said deck first portion and said deck second portion, (B) extends between at least said deck first portion and said deck second portion, and (C) defines at least one anchor hole; said body includes at least two upwardly projecting walls that each (A) is located adjacent said deck first portion, said deck second portion, and said platform, and (B) extends to an elevation higher than said platform; one of said protuberances projects laterally from one of said two walls over said raised platform; another one of said protuberances projects laterally from another one of said two walls over said raised platform; said system includes a top that includes (A) said first lid, (B) said second lid, (C) a stationary central panel, (D) an anchor post that (1) projects from beneath said central panel, and (2) has an enlarged head which is temporarily elastically deformable for initially deforming to pass through said body raised platform anchor hole and for subsequently returning to its undeformed configuration beneath said platform to create a snap-fit engagement mounting of said central panel to said platform, (E) a first hinge connecting said central panel to said first lid, and (F) a second hinge connecting said central panel to said second lid. 11. A dispensing closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said dispensing closure system comprising: (A) a body for accommodating communication with said container interior and including (1) a deck having at least (a) a first dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed, and (b) a second dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed, and (2) at least two protuberances that each (a) are located above the elevation of said deck, and (b) project laterally; (B) at least a first lid that (1) is associated with said first dispensing region, (2) is pivotable between (a) a closed position occluding said first dispensing region aperture, and (b) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said first dispensing region aperture, and (3) defines two lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past one said protuberances as said first lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said first lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said first lid so as to move said first lid toward said closed position and force said first lid margins past said protuberances; (C) at least a second lid that (1) is associated with said second dispensing region, (2) is pivotable between (a) a closed position occluding said second dispensing region aperture, and (b) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said second dispensing region aperture, and (3) defines two lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past one said protuberances as said second lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said second lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said second lid so as to move said second lid toward said closed position and force said second lid margins past said protuberances; and wherein said body deck has at least (A) a deck first portion defining said first dispensing region, and (B) a deck second portion defining said first dispensing region, and (C) a deck second portion defining said second dispensing region; said body includes a raised platform that (A) is at an elevation higher than said deck first portion and said deck second portion, (B) extends between at least said deck first portion and said deck second portion, and (C) defines one anchor recess with a annular snap-fit retention bead; said body includes at least two upwardly projecting walls that each (A) is located adjacent said platform, and (B) extends to an elevation higher than said platform; one of said protuberances projects laterally from one of said two walls over said raised platform; said system includes a top that includes (A) said first lid, (B) said second lid, (C) a stationary central panel, (D) an anchor post that (1) projects from beneath said central panel, and (2) has an annular bead for cooperating with said anchor post retention bead to create a snap-fit engagement mounting of said central panel to said platform when said anchor post is inserted into said anchor recess, (E) a first hinge connecting said central panel to said first lid, and (F) a second hinge connecting said central panel to said second lid. 12. The system in accordance with claim 11 in which said body deck defines a deck third portion defining a third dispensing region that defines at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed; said body includes three of said upwardly projecting walls such that (A) a first one of said upwardly projecting walls (1) is located adjacent said deck first portion, said deck second portion, and said platform, and (2) extends to an elevation higher than said platform; (B) a second one of said upwardly projecting walls (1) is located adjacent said deck second portion, said deck third portion, and said platform, and (2) extends to an elevation higher than said platform; (C) a third one of said upwardly projecting walls (1) is located adjacent said deck third portion, said deck first portion, and said platform, and (2) extends to an elevation higher than said platform; (D) each of said three upwardly projecting walls has two inner end faces that diverge from each other; one of said protuberances projects from one of said inner end faces over said body raised platform and over said top central panel; said top includes (A) a third lid that is associated with said third dispensing region; and (B) a third hinge connecting said third lid to said central panel so that said third lid is pivotable between a closed position occluding said first dispensing region aperture and a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through the third dispensing region aperture; and said third lid defines two lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past one of said protuberances as said third lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said third lid is retained unless a sufficient force is applied to said third lid so as to move said third lid toward said closed position and force said third lid margins past said protuberances. 13. A dispensing closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said dispensing closure system comprising: (A) a body for accommodating communication with said container interior and including (1) a deck having (a) a deck first portion that includes a first dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed, and (b) a deck second portion that includes a second dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed; (2) a raised platform that (a) is at an elevation higher than said deck first portion and said deck second portion, (b) extends between at least said deck first portion and said deck second portion, and (c) defines at least one anchor hole; (3) a pair of spaced-apart, upwardly projecting walls that each (a) is located adjacent said deck first portion, said deck second portion, and said platform, and (b) extends to an elevation higher than said platform; (4) a first protuberance projecting laterally from one of said pair of projecting walls over said raised platform; (5) a second protuberance projecting laterally from the other one of said pair of projecting walls over said raised platform; (B) a top that is mounted to said body and that includes (1) a stationary central panel; (2) an anchor post that (a) projects from beneath said central panel, and (b) has an enlarged head which is temporarily elastically deformable for initially deforming to pass through said body raised platform anchor hole and for subsequently returning to its undeformed configuration beneath said platform to create a snap-fit engagement mounting of said central panel to said platform; (3) a first lid that (a) is associated with said first dispensing region, (b) is hingedly connected to said central panel, (c) is pivotable between (i) a closed position occluding said first dispensing region aperture, and (ii) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said first dispensing region aperture, and (d) defines first and second lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past said first and second protuberances, respectively, as said first lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said first lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said first lid so as to move said first lid toward said closed position and force said first lid margins past said protuberances; and (4) a second lid that (a) is associated with said second dispensing region, (b) is hingedly connected to said central panel, (c) is pivotable between (i) a closed position occluding said second dispensing region aperture, and (ii) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said second dispensing region aperture, and (d) defines first and second lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past said first and second protuberances, respectively, as said second lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said second lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said second lid so as to move said second lid toward said closed position and force said second lid margins past said protuberances. 14. A dispensing closure system for a container that has an interior where a product may be stored, said dispensing closure system comprising: (A) a body for accommodating communication with said container interior and including (1) a deck having (a) a deck first portion that includes a first dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed, and (b) a deck second portion that includes a second dispensing region defining at least one aperture from which product can be dispensed: (2) a raised platform that (a) is at an elevation higher than said deck first portion and said deck second portion, (b) extends between at least said deck first portion and said deck second portion, and (c) defines one anchor recess with a annular snap-fit retention bead; (3) a pair of spaced-apart, upwardly projecting walls that each (a) is located adjacent said deck first portion, said deck second portion, and said platform, and (b) extends to an elevation higher than said platform; (4) a first protuberance projecting laterally from one of said pair of projecting walls over said raised platform; (5) a second protuberance projecting laterally from the other one of said pair of projecting walls over said raised platform; (B) a top that is mounted to said body and that includes (1) a stationary central panel; (2) an anchor post that (a) projects from beneath said central panel, and (b) has an annular bead for cooperating with said anchor post retention bead to mount said central panel to said platform with a snap-fit engagement when said anchor post is inserted into said anchor recess; (3) a first lid that (a) is associated with said first dispensing region, (b) is hingedly connected to said central panel, (c) is pivotable between (i) a closed position occluding said first dispensing region aperture, and (ii) a full open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said first dispensing region aperture, and (d) defines first and second lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past said first and second protuberances, respectively, as said first lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said first lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said first lid so as to move said first lid toward said closed position and force said first lid margins past said protuberances; and (4) a second lid that (a) is associated with said second dispensing region, (b) is hingedly connected to said central panel, (c) is pivotable between (i) a closed position occluding said second dispensing region aperture, and (ii) a fully open position away from said closed position to permit dispensing of product from the container through said second dispensing region aperture, and (d) defines first and second lateral margins for each engaging and being forced past said first and second protuberances, respectively, as said second lid is pivoted to said fully open position where said second lid is retained unless a sufficient closing force is applied to said second lid so as to move said second lid toward said closed position and force said second lid margins past said protuberances. 15. The system in accordance with claim 14 in which each said protuberance (A) is elongate, and (B) has two ends which each defines a camming surface for initially engaging and guiding one of said lateral margins of one of said lids.
